ATLANTA — North Clayton High School Head Coach, Cap Burnett, has been named the 2025 Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Year and will serve as the Falcons nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. The award is given to a high school head coach who represents integrity, leadership, perseverance, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection and on-field success.
As the Falcons nominee, Burnett could become the third high school coach from Georgia to win the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award over the past seven seasons. He would join Dalton High School's Matt Land (2019) and Booker T. Washington's Derrick Avery (2020).
Burnett has been coaching at his alma mater for the past 10 years. His love for the school, community and students of NCHS is what inspires him. Burnett leads by example with professionalism, integrity and consistency, and has created a team environment where athletes and coaches feel valued and supported. Coach Cap, as he is referred to by his players, took a team that previously struggled with consistency and competitiveness and guided them to an 8-3 record in 2025, which stands as one of the program's strongest in recent memory. This success is rooted in the culture of discipline, accountability and genuine belief he instills in his players every day, encouraging them to pursue excellence in every aspect of their lives.
"My philosophy on teamwork, sportsmanship and character development starts with discipline, dedication, desire and determination," said Burnett. "I teach my players that being part of a team means putting others first, holding yourself accountable and giving your best every day. Sportsmanship is about respect for teammates, opponents, coaches and the game itself and showing integrity in every action. Character development comes from embracing challenges, learning from mistakes and remaining committed even when it is difficult. By instilling these values consistently, I'm not just trying to build better athletes, but young men who carry discipline, dedication, desire and determination into every part of their lives."
What truly sets him apart are the personal moments in which he guides players through difficult family situations, offering mentorship beyond football, and remaining a consistent, positive force for students long after they graduate. Off the field, Coach Cap fosters a family-like environment within the program, building strong relationships with players and their families, creating trust, stability and a sense of belonging that extends beyond football.
Academics remain a central priority in his program, with structured study sessions, close monitoring of grades and constant collaboration with teachers to ensure every player remains focused on long-term opportunities. Burnett has a current graduation rate of 100%, with many of his athletes having earned collegiate interest, scholarships and new academic pathways because of his mentorship. His past students, including Yaya Diaby, Kindle Vildor, Emmanuel Dieke, Amarlo Herrera and Morgan Burnett, have led successful collegiate and NFL careers built on the foundation of Coach Burnett's teachings.
Burnett was surprised with the news he had been named the 2025 Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Year by his brother at the 2025 Atlanta Falcons Community Honors Award Show. He also served as the honorary captain for the Falcons' Week 17 Monday Night Football win, where he was surprised with tickets to Super Bowl LX.
